The NFL preseason is a weird little window. It counts for nothing and still manages to say a lot. Coaches want timing, trainers want clean exit reports, and the rest of us just want to see if the first snap looks like football or a fire drill. This weekend had quick cameos from stars who looked like stars, a couple of backups making real noise, one quarterback room that might've surpassed the Browns for the most dramatic in the league for all the wrong reasons, and a handful of “yep, still him” drives that let everyone breathe.

Quick note before we get rolling — we’re keeping this one to the vets. The rookies had their own weekend recap, so this is all about the familiar faces: starters getting tuned up and backups trying to prove they’re a safe pair of hands if called on.

Thursday

Ravens 24, Colts 16 — Indy’s Two‑QB Plan Survives a Scare

If we’re being honest, this has been the truest quarterback battle in the league — not in the breathless talk‑radio way, but there are two quarterbacks with legitimate paths to Week 1 snaps. The twist? Injuries keep barging through the door like an uninvited guest.

Anthony Richardson’s night lasted seven snaps before a dislocated pinkie cut it short. That’s not a season‑ender, but it’s another entry on a growing list that’s already shaped his career. He got back to practice quickly, so there's not a ton to worry about. But every missed rep in August gets expensive when you’re trying to settle an actual battle.

Daniel Jones then got the runway every veteran says they want — extended time with a real script — and couldn’t turn it into points. The numbers — 10 completions on 21 attempts for 144 yards — don’t lie, and they’re not pretty. Completing under 50% in the preseason is rough. The film didn’t help his case either with missed throws in the intermediate range, a couple of clean pockets where he acted like they were on fire, and a general lack of control that you could feel even through the TV. The Colts tried to help him with quick-game and play-action, but Jones never looked like he was running the show.

Every time injuries open the door for Jones, inconsistent play closes it. If Richardson’s hand cooperates, the job is still his — not because of hype, but because the alternative hasn’t made a convincing case.

Eagles 34, Bengals 27 — Burrow Looks Like Burrow; McKee Makes the Room Safer

Two truths can live together: the Bengals offense looks ready to go right now, and Philly might have one of the best QB2 situations in football.

Joe Burrow’s two drives were a reminder of why this unit hangs 30 on teams like it’s part of their Sunday night routine. Timing with Ja’Marr Chase looked like they spent the whole summer in the lab. Protection calls were clean. They mixed quick rhythm stuff with a layered shot, and it all felt like midseason tempo. No panic, no drama, just a really good offense doing really good offense things.

On the other sideline, Tanner McKee put together the kind of QB2 performance that calms a head coach’s soul. Efficient underneath, willing to rip when leverage said go, and comfortable manipulating safeties with his eyes. Add the short‑yardage sneak on the goal line, and you’ve got a backup who can both move the ball and finish drives. That’s not a luxury — that’s insurance you can actually cash in on when you need to.

Raiders 23, Seahawks 23 — The Biggest Headline Happened Before the Game

Sometimes the show starts in the tunnel. Returning to his old home, Geno Smith saw a sign that took a lazy shot at his career arc and answered with a dual-flying salute that went instantly viral. That moment, and Pete Carroll’s non‑apology defense, told you everything you need to know about their dynamic — competitive, defiant, and still bonded despite the uniform change.

As for the football: Geno’s cameo was the definition of “get in, get out,” and Aidan O'Connell took most of the work. Drew Lock looked… fine for Seattle. Command was solid, a couple of sharp throws, nothing to call your buddies about. But the truth is the pregame exchange swallowed most of the oxygen.

Friday

Browns 30, Panthers 10 — Bryce’s Work Gets Overshadowed, But Don’t Miss It

A lot of talk went to the other quarterback storyline in this one, and fair enough — Shedeur Sanders had a good game. But if you zoom in on Bryce Young’s snaps, there’s real progress. He ran a crisp second drive, moved confidently in the pocket, and placed the ball with conviction in that 10‑to‑18‑yard area he needs to own this season. He showed chemistry with his top receivers, steadier tempo throughout the night — the small stuff added up.

He finished last season on a mini‑run. This looked like a continuation, not a reset. The Panthers need early‑down efficiency; Bryce looked like someone ready to lead with it.

Lions 17, Falcons 10 — Detroit’s Backup Race Tilts (Slightly)

Kyle Allen’s night had the two things coaches love to circle for a backup: a vertical shot that actually landed and a red‑zone finish. Hendon Hooker had the flip side — ball security issues that wiped away otherwise decent work.

As for the Falcons, their backups did their jobs, kept the offense moving, and avoided any big disasters. It was solid, if unspectacular. And without Michael Penix Jr. making an appearance, there just wasn’t that extra buzz or curiosity factor that might’ve made this one more interesting.

Patriots 48, Commanders 18 — Not Much Here for the Vet Notebook

Drake Maye held onto the ball a beat too long on his limited run, and beyond that there just wasn’t a lot worth writing about from the veteran angle. Washington rested most of their key guys, New England didn’t show much beyond structure, and the game turned into a special‑teams and youth showcase.

Saturday

Giants 34, Bills 25 — One Drive for Russ, and a New Narrative to Manage

Russell Wilson got exactly one drive, checked the timing/operation boxes, and called it a night. That would’ve been the whole story on most August Saturdays, but then Jaxson Dart came in and lit it up. No, that doesn’t mean he's lost the starting gig. It does mean Wilson will be asked about it once or twice, and fair or not, that’s part of the job description.

Buffalo, meanwhile, rested Josh Allen and got clean, competent work from the backups. The offense looked like itself even without QB1 — protection held, timing was fine, and nothing looked rickety.

Vikings 20, Texans 10 — The McCarthy Box Gets Checked

The headline here was simple: J.J. McCarthy is back, and for at least one long drive, he looked like the guy Minnesota drafted him to be. He put together a 13‑play march that checked all the operational boxes — commanding the huddle, varying his pace to keep Houston’s front guessing, making the right calls in protection, and delivering the ball on time.

There were a couple of throws he’d want back, sure, but he also mixed in some confident rips into tight windows and made a couple of savvy moves in the pocket to buy himself time. Overall it was the kind of composed, on‑schedule work that let the whole building exhale a bit. And for a fan base that’s been waiting to see him take control again, that one drive felt like more than just August reps — it felt like a step forward.

Houston countered with Davis Mills, who looked like a player with starts under his belt: steady, competent, unbothered. He didn’t wow you, but he kept the train on the tracks and played like someone who knows exactly what a preseason rep is worth.

Steelers 31, Jaguars 25 — Lawrence Comfortable; Pittsburgh’s Backups Feast

Trevor Lawrence took Liam Coen’s offense for a spin and looked like a guy who’s been studying the manual. On his lone series, he went six‑for‑seven and marched the Jags into field‑goal range. He mixed in a quick‑hitter to keep the sticks moving and hit a layered throw over the middle. It never felt rushed — he trusted his eyes, let the scheme do the work, and played point guard instead of hero ball. For a first live run in Coen’s system, it looked polished and very much under control.

Then Pittsburgh’s backups took over and turned the rest of the night into something closer to a controlled scrimmage than a typical preseason game. Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson combined to complete 29 of their 38 passes, carving up Jacksonville’s second-dtring defense. They stayed efficient in the red zone, too, finishing with four touchdowns between them. It looked like pitch‑and‑catch for most of the second half.

Rams 31, Cowboys 21 — The Rams’ Backup Microscope Is On

Joe Milton III finished last season with some momentum. This was not that. Early accuracy issues, a couple of forced balls, and a rhythm that didn’t really settle until late. That’s not fatal in August, but it’s a bigger concern when you remember Dak Prescott’s history of missing time — making the backup quarterback spot even more important for Dallas.

Stetson Bennett did the game‑manager thing and more or less kept to the script. Nothing screamed “lock,” but he didn’t blow himself out of the race either. That’s where the Rams are: one veteran trying to be steady, one talented arm with variance, a franchise quarterback taking wellness days, and a coaching staff that needs to figure this out before Week 1.

Buccaneers 29, Titans 7 — Not Much to See Here, and That’s Fine

Kyle Trask looked fine. That’s really the takeaway. He’s behind Baker Mayfield — a guy who plays through anything — so he's not very likely to see the field. Tennessee is all‑in on Cam Ward, the number-one overall pick.

Cardinals 20, Chiefs 17 — Kyler’s Early Oops, Strong Response; Minshew Is the Grown‑Up in the Room

Kyler Murray needed a clean August, not for headlines but for habits. He didn’t get it on the first drive. After starting fine he rolled out and severely underthrew Marvin Harrison Jr. and the ball went right to the defender. He ended up completing every other pass he attempted on the day, but he looked a little hesitant and indecisive after the interception. Arizona doesn’t need preseason fireworks; they need Kyler to stack good reps. 

Kansas City’s veteran story is simple: Gardner Minshew looks like a pros’ pro as the QB2. Composed, on time, and able to steal yards with his legs when the play calls for it. Nobody in that building is looking to see him in September, but if they have to, the offense won’t completely fall apart.

Jets 30, Packers 10 — Fields Sparks, Love Sputters

Justin Fields gave the Jets exactly the opener they wanted: a long, methodical drive finished by his legs and supported by on‑schedule throws. It was composed more than explosive, and that’s fine. This offense needs a steady pilot more than a hero‑ball artist.

Jordan Love’s two series were a grind from start to finish — timing felt just a hair off on a few throws, a couple of catchable balls clanked to the turf, and the whole operation never found much rhythm. He had one or two moments where he stood in and delivered with authority, but they were too few to settle the offense. Some of that fell on him — a late read here, a slightly off‑target ball there — and some on his receivers, who didn’t exactly help with drops and loose routes. The end result was a 1‑for‑5 passing line for just seven yards. In August, you chalk it up as an unsatisfying cameo more than a red‑alert crisis, but that kind of flat outing, with so little yardage to show for it, leaves you wishing for just one more chance to see if he could finally click and get the rhythm back.

Broncos 30, 49ers 9 — The Known and the New in San Francisco

Mac Jones had the kind of night you’d expect if you’ve followed his career — a mix of steady execution when the pocket was clean and a couple of “what was that?” moments when it wasn’t. He hit a beautiful 50‑yard strike early that showed he can still drop one in the bucket, but later forced a throw under pressure that ended up as an interception. Bo Nix looked fine. Nothing flashy, not much downfield aggression, but he stayed composed and on schedule within the offense. It wasn’t the type of outing that turns heads, but it also wasn’t the type that loses games.

Sunday

Dolphins 24, Bears 24 — Tua’s Accuracy Travels; Chicago Waits on the Main Act

Even without his usual vertical deep threats, Tua Tagovailoa opened with a crisp 15‑play drive that leaned on his usual sharp timing and ball placement that kept the chains moving. On third downs, he looked in control — getting the ball out before the rush could bother him — and while there weren’t many explosive plays without his top targets, the operation still felt efficient and comfortable, like a group that knows exactly what it wants to be.

Chicago’s backups were fine. They moved the ball a bit and hit a few throws, then ran into protection speed bumps and stalled. Truthfully, everyone’s waiting to see the rookie in Ben Johnson’s offense. That’s the show.

Chargers 27, Saints 13 — Saints’ QB Room Feels Heavy; Lance Taps the Brakes After a Hot Start Last Week

New Orleans can spin it however they want, but the tape shows a long season if the quarterbacks don’t find answers fast. Sacks, a pick‑six, and a general lack of rhythm across the room — it’s not just one guy, it’s the vibe.

Spencer Rattler started and went 7‑of‑11 for 53 yards, took three sacks and lost a fumble; Tyler Shough provided the one spark, going 15‑of‑22 for 165 yards with a 54‑yard TD to Mason Tipton but also threw a pick‑six and was sacked twice; Jake Haener closed it out at 5‑of‑8 for 41 yards with a late interception. It was not the outing thery were hoping to see from any of the three.

On the other side, Trey Lance cooled off a bit compared to his Hall of Fame Game burst. Still composed, still athletic enough to finish in the red area, just not the same pop. That’s okay — growth rarely runs in straight lines. The takeaway is he still looks like a capable hand when the Chargers need snaps behind the starter.

Two-Minute Warning

Preseason is the ultimate paradox. It doesn’t count, and it absolutely matters — especially for quarterbacks. If all your team needed was rhythm and a clean bill of health, you probably got it. If you needed your backup to look like a functioning adult, a few guys made the case.

The trick now is not overreacting to box scores or one bad ball in the flats. Keep the focus on process — timing, communication, and how quickly the ball finds the right place — because that’s the stuff that survives when September shows up and the snaps finally mean something.